Suction nozzle



pril 8, 1941. A E, R055 2,237,727

sUcTIow NozzLm y Filed Jan. 23, 19,59 2 sheets-sheet 1 v d v v V v w v y 13 10 INVENTOR,

\ l 'BY l v A11 Y.

Z/.' 1.a 15, L 226 April 8, 1941'. A. E. ROSS SUCTION NOZZLE Filed Jan. 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zo 42 3.1i zo INVENTOR. Mila/w I @w l Am atentecl Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEI SUCTION NOZZLE Adrian E. Ross, Stamford, Conn., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corpora- 'tion of Delaware Application January 23, 1939, Serial No. 252,252 7 Claims. (Cl. 15157) My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to an improved suction nozzle for use with vacuum cleaners.

In the cleaning of rugs the suction nozzle must be adapted for use in cleaning rugs of different characteristics, such asrugs of high pile, me-

dium pile, low pile, and hooked rugs. In-addition to the difference in the characteristics of the rugs there is a diierence in the nature of the dirt to be removed. Dirt embedded in the rug nap is removed by a nozzle having lips sealed against the rug surface and causing a large volurne of air to iiow through the rug nap. Surface dirt, such as, dog hairs, threads, and the like, is removed by a high velocity ci air along pivoted elbow I4.

One side of slot I3 is bounded by a smooth lip I which is inclined at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the elevation of the nozzle body the rug surface. Removal of tenaciously adher- 'ing threads may be aided by a member secured adjacent the nozzle mouth for dislodging the threads. i

One of the objects of my inventionis to provide an improved suction nozzle producing a high velocity flow of air along the surface of the rug. 4 Another object o! my invention-is to provide va member which will quickly dislodge the te--v following specification and appended claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1` is a top view of my improved nozzle;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 2`2 of Fig. 1 showing the nozzle in cleaning position on a rug;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view taken at right angles to Fia. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view oi a modified form of the invention l Fig. 5` is an' enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4:

liig. d is a plan-view similar to Fig. 4 showing the thread lifting member in a different position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of another modified form ot the invention; v

. Fig. 3 is .a plan view similar to Fig. '2 showing thc thread lifting member in a different position: and

by bolts II.

I0. The opposite side of slot I3 is bounded by a plate I6 which is also inclined. -Plate I6 is preferably formed as a separate member for convenience in manufacture and secured to body I0 It may be found desirable in some cases to form plate I6 integral with body I0. Adjacent to slot I3 spaced lugs or teeth I8 are formed in plate IE extending inwardly across the slot I3 in a substantially horizontal plane. As best indicated in Fig. ,2, lugs I8 are of a general ytriangular yshape with the apices of the triangles located in substantially the same horizontal plane as the edge of lip I5 adjacent to slot I3. The outer surface of platev I6 is curved transversely from the apices of lugs I8 in a smooth convex curve forming a sealing ridge I9 beyond lugs I8 extending lengthwise of the slot I3 for a purpose that will be pointed out below.

Adjacent each end of slot I3 a gliding and positioning extension 20 is formed with a transversely curved convex contacting surface.

When it is desired to remove surface dirt the top I2 is placed in contact with a rug 2l. The

-two end extensions 20 compress the pile 22 of rug 2l, as shown in Fig. 3 at 23. The sealing ridge I9 'of plate I6 is embedded a short distance in the pile 22. The lugs I8 are positioned by the end extensions 20 and ridge I9 with their apices at the surface oi' the pile 22. When the interior of body I is connected to a source of suction a iiow of air is induced in the slot I3. As the inner edge of lip I5 isllocated above the ridge I9 at the opposite side of slot I3 a greater flow of air will be induced into the slot I3 from the left as shown in Fig. ,2. This greater flow of air k:from the left is, in part, the result of the ridge I9 sealing against the surface of the pile 22 and so causing-all the air entering from the right to pass through the pile 22 a short distance below the surface whereas air entering from the left passes along the surface of pile 22. With the greater quantity of air entering from the resultant force left the produced by the air flow at the siot I3 on hairs, threads, and other surface dirt will be in a general direction parallel to the inside face of plate I8. As the nozzle body I@ is moved forwardly, that is toward the left as shown in Fig. 2, the lugs I8 will engage any threads, hairs, or the like' on the surface of pile 22 which have not been carried by the force produced by the air flow into slot I3 and will produce a wedging action separating the threads, hairs, etc. from the pile surface. The wedging action produced by lugs I8 is in the same direction as the resultant force of air flowing into slot I3 and so is supplementary thereto.

While the ridge I9 is embedded in the pile 22 the area in contact with rug 2l is relatively small and it may be said to make a line contact with the surface of rug 2i. The line contact between ridge ISI and pile 22 is sufcient to serve as a surface seal for the nozzle slot I3 and is not so great as to produce a high frictional resistance to the movement of surface dirt into the suction slot I3 nor to the movement of the nozzle along the rug, The area of contact between lip I5 and rug 2l is even less than for ridge I9, so that unimpeded movement of surface dirt and litter beneath the lip I5 into suction slot I3 is assured. The spaces between adjacent lugs I8 must be sufficient to permit a small flow of air therebetween to remove any hairs, threads, or the like that may become caught on the edge of one of the lugs I8. The spaces between lugs I8, as shown, are substantially equal to the width of the lugs I8 but this space is not critical and may be somewhat greater or less, if desired. The

depth of the spaces between lugs I8 must not be Q In the modification shown in Figs. 4, 5, ande,

lugs of different thickness are shown which may be selectively presented depending upon the character of the rug to be cleaned. In Figs, 4 and 5, the nozzle body I0 is shown with spaced lugs or lteeth 24 shown positioned adjacent the suction slot I3. As best indicated in Fig. 5, lugs 24 are formed adjacent an elongated transverse passage 25 through rod 26. The passage 25 is inclined to a plane perpendicular to the elevation of nozzle body I0 and determines the' angle of air flow and the direction of the resultant lifting force. The exterior cylindricalsurface of the rod 26 forms the sealing ridge 2l. The operation of a nozzle in removing surface dirt from'the pile 22 of rug 2l is the same as explained above in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2-, and 3. A finger grip 28 is provided as shown in Fig, 4 for rotating the rod 26 through an angle of 180 degrees to position the lugs 29 in a cleaning position as shown in Fig. 6. The

. lugs or teeth 29 are thicker than the lugs 24 and,

in addition, the spaces between the lugs 29 are larger than the spaces between the correspondingv lugs 24 and formed by cu'rved surfaces blending into the lugs 29,

In cleaning small rugs the force produced by the suction in the large suction opening with the smooth lips may be so great as to prevent moving the nozzle without also moving the rug; It is desirable in cleaning such small rugs to use the smaller suction slot because the force of the suction is less due to the lesser area of the opening and the nozzle can be movedover the rug Without also moving the rug. In cleaning hooked rugs it is possible .that the lugs 2li with their sharp edges may catch in the loops of the threads of the rug. The thicker lugs 29 with the curved surfaces between them are less likely to catch in the loops and so it is desirable to use the lugs 29 for cleaning hooked rugs. The lugs 29 are positioned in the same relative position with respect to the lip I5 and slot I3 as lugs 24 shown in Fig. 5. The adjacent portion 3!) -of rod 26 serves as a sealing ridge for the lugs 29.

A still further modification is shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9. In this modification, body I0 is provided with a pivoted plate 3l with a plurality of lugs or teeth 32 on one edge and a smooth surface 38 on the other edge. When lugs 32 are in the position indicated in Fig. 9, they are spaced from an inclined lip 34 forming a slot 35 therebetween. The lugs 32 and lip 34 correspond to the lugs I8 and lip I5 of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3. A sealing ridge 3b is formed adjacent to the lugs 32. When the plate 3| is in this position the cleaning action of the nozzle is the same as described with connection with Figs. 1 to 3. A tongue 31 is secured to plate ill and pivotally connected to body II] by a pivot pin 38, The inner end of .tongue 3l engages a spring 89 secured to body IIJ by a screw dll. Tongue 31 extends through an opening QI in a push button 42. When push button 42 is moved to the right from the position shown in Fig. 9, the tongue 3l passes through the vertical center-line of pivot pin 38 to move the plate 9i to .the position indicated in Fig. 8. In this position, spring 39 holds tongue 31 in contact with the opposite interior wall 43. With plate 3l in this position, a slot 865 is formed between an inclined lip 45 and the adjacent edge 46 of plate 3l. This produces a relatively narrow slot with smooth lips'which can be conveniently used for removing ordinary surface dirt Where there are no hairs, threads, or the like, and for. cleaning embedded dirt from small rugs especially rugs of low pile and hooked rugs. When it is desired to move the plate 3l from the position of Fig, 8 to the position of Fig. 7,.push button 42 is moved to the left, as shown in Fig. 9, until the tongue 31 engages the interior wall di in which position i-t is held by spring 39, as shown in Fig. 9.

What I claim is:

1. A'suction nozzle including a body having an elongated slot, spaced teeth located at one side of the slot and extending toward the opposite side of the slot, a smooth lip extending from the body along the opposite side of the slot from the teeth with the contact surface of the lip in substantially the same horizontal plane as the tips of the teeth, a ridge formed in the body adjacent said teeth. and extending lengthwise of the slot and -outwardly beyond the plane formed by the opposite Jlip and the tips of the teeth, said teeth being located intermediate said ridge and the slot, and extensions from the body forming'gliding surfaces spaced outwardly beyond the plane formed by the opposite lip and the tips of the teeth and located at each end of the suction opening.

2. A suction nozzle including a body having an elongated opening, a cylindrical rod secured in said opening and having an inclined transverse passage forming a suction opening and communicating with the interior of the body, spaced teethformed in the rod at one end of the passage of the rod and extending toward the opposite side of the opening of the body, a smooth lip extending from the body along the opposite side of the opening from said teeth with the contact surface of the lip in substantially the same horizontal plane as tnetips of the teeth, the portion of the rod adjacent said teeth extending outwardly beyond the plane of the contact surface -of the lip and the tips of the teeth, and extensions from said body forming gliding surfaces spaced outwardly beyond the plane formed by the opposite lip and the tips of the teeth and located at each end of the opening.

3. A suction nozzle including a hollow body member having an elongated opening, a plate secured to said body at an angle to the horizontal plane along one side of said opening, spaced teeth extending from said plate toward the opposite side of said opening, a smooth lip formed in said body adjacent the opposite side of said opening from said plate with the contact surface of the lip in substantially the same horizontal plane as the tips oi' the teeth, a ridge formed in said plate adjacent to said teeth extending lengthwise of the plate and outwardly beyond the plane formed by the contact surface of the opposite lip and the tips of the teeth, said teeth being located intermediate said ridge and the opening of the body member, and extensions i from. the body forming gliding surfaces spaced outwardly beyond the plane formed by the opposite lip and the tips of the teeth and located at each end of the suction opening.

d. A suction nozzle including a hollow body having an elongated opening, a lip extending from the body along each side of the opening, a plate pivotally mounted in the opening of said body, means for moving said plate from one position with oney edge spaced from a lip at one side of the opening to a second position with the opposite edge of the plate spaced from the lip at the opposite side of the opening, spaced teeth extending from the plate along one edge toward the opposite lip of the opening with the tips of the teeth in substantially the same horizontal plane as the contact surface of the lip at the opposite side of the opening, a ridge formed in said plate adjacent said teeth extending lengthwise of the plate and outwardly beyond the hori- Zonta] plane of the contact surface of the oppo- .site lip, said ridge being spaced from the edge of the plate, and extensions from the body forming gliding surfaces spaced outwardly beyond the plane formed by the opDOsite lip and the tips of the teeth and located at each end of the suction openingu ii. A suction nozzle including a hollow body having an elongated opening, a lip extending from the body along each side of the opening, a plate assigne? pivotaliy mounted in the opening of said body, a tongue secured to said plate and extending inwardly within said body, a push button engaging said tongue to move said plate from one position with one edge spaced from a lip at one side of the opening to form a suction opening to a second position with the opposite edge of the plate spaced from the lip at the opposite side of the opening, spaced teeth extending from the plate along one edge toward the opposite lip of the opening with the tips of the teeth in substantially the same horizontal plane as the contact surface of the lip at the opposite side of the opening, a ridge formed in said plate adjacent said teeth extending lengthwise of the plate and outwardly beyond the horizontal plane of the contact surface of the opposite lip, said ridge being spaced from the edge or the plate, and extensions from the body forining gliding siufaces spaced outwardly beyond the plane formed by the opposite lip and the tips of the teeth and located at each end of the suction opening.

6. A suction nozzle including a hollow body member having an elongated opening, a plate secured to said body along one side of said opening, spaced teeth extending from said plate toward the opposite side of said opening, a smooth lip formed in said body adjacent the opposite side of said opening from said plate, said teeth being of substantially triangular cross-section in a vertical plane with the apices of the triangles located in substantially the same horizontal plane as the contact surface of the smooth lip, a ridge extending lengthwise of the plate adjacent to and spaced outwardly beyond the plane of the tip of the teeth and the contact surface of the lip, and extensions from the body forming gliding surfaces spaced outwardly beyond the plane formed by the opposite lip and the tips of the teeth and located at each end of the suction opening.

'7. A suction nozzle including a body having an elongated opening, a cylindrical rod secured in said opening and having an inclined transverse passage forming a suction opening and communieating with the interior of the body, spaced teeth formed in the rod at one end of the passage of the rod and extending toward the opposite side of the opening of the body, a smooth lip extending from the body along the opposite side of the opening from said teeth with the contact surface of the lip in substantially the same horizontal plane as the tips of the teeth, a ridge formed adjacent said teeth extending outwardly beyond the plane of the contact surface of the lip and the tips of the teeth, and extensions from the body forming gliding surfaces spaced outwardly beyond the piane formed by the opposite lip and the tips of the teeth and located at each end oi the suction opening. l

ADRIAN E. ROSS. 

